| Guy Montag | -Protagonist-Sympathetic, curious, caring, unhappy, changes throughout the book-Married to Mildred-Unlike other Firemen-Feels bad for the lady when he has to burn her books-Opens his mouth to the rain-Sometimes asks “unconsiously” does things without even realizing: such as his murder of Beatty |
| Mildred | -Disbelieving/In denial: about her suicide attempt-Untrustworthy/loyal: turns in Montag-In her own world; watches the family-Very nervous when Beatty comes to their house, but ends up blowing their cover-Oblivious: to the Mechanical Hound in their yard |
| Clarisse | -Open minded: talks about nature, observant-Curious: Asks, why, not what-Influential: Has an effect on Montag after asking if he is happy-INSIGHTING FORCE: gets the conflict going ^-Percieves the world differently-Only 17; very wise-Gets run over by a car; Mildred doesn’t want to talk about her |
| Beatty | -Antagonist-Fire chief-Close-minded: wants to burn books and refuses to believe anything otherwise-Used to be a librarian; books tempt him so he dislikes them-Satisfaction after he burns books; one less to tempt him-Smoky, burnt, black appearance “smoldering” |
| Faber | -Professor-Montag brings him a Bible-Tinkers with electronics-Makes a speaking device;ironic because Montag wants to think for himself but with the device, Faber is thinking for him-Coward; sees Montag as his second chance to make a change |
| The Hound | -Eight legged-Insect legs-Symbol of a creeping spider-Hound in controlled by the government/Beatty; has it out for Montag |
| Granger | -The leader of the “Book People,” the group of hobo intellectuals Montag finds in the country-Intelligent, patient, and confident-Wants to preserve books throughout the Dark Age |
| Mrs. Bowles | -Mildred’s friend-Typical person in the society; uncaring; oblivious |
| Stoneman/Black | -Two fireman Montag works with; don’t question their job; normal “firefighters”-Montag plants the books in BLACK’s home |
| Rising Action | 1) Witnesses an old woman burn along with her books2) Montag takes The Bible3) Hears of Clarrisse’s death4) Looks for history in his books5) Seeks help from Faber6) Mechanical Hound shows up in their yard7) Reads Dover Beach to Mildred’s friends; realized how superficial they are8) Mildred/friends report him for the possession of books9) Montag is instructed to burn his house down |
| Climax | Montag’s murder of Beatty |
| Inciting Force | Clarrisse acts Montag; “Are you happy?” |
| Falling Action | 10) Destroys the Mechanical Hound11) Runs to Fabers who instructs him to head to the outskirts of the city; gives him Whiskey12) Hound chases him13) Meets Granger and unites with the book people; knows he is safe14) City is blown up; Granger/group/Montag eat breakfast then head for the destroyed city |
| Resolution | Montag and a large group of the book people have a process of conserving books forever by word of mouth; which leaves hope for the demolished city to be reborn with the use of books |
| Setting | Time: Future, 24th century; books over the course of 3 weeksPlace: Montag’s city and the outskirts |
| Internal Conflict | Montag’s happiness |
| External Conflict | Montag’s unwanting for Fireman to burn books |
| Theme | If everything is censored, eventually there will be nothing leftKnowledge vs. Ignorance: Beatty/Fireman want to destroy knowledge and promote ignorance, Faber/Clarrisse/Montag/Granger/Book People try to do the opposite |
| Symbols | Clarrisse/Mirrors: Self reflectionBomb: New beginningsFire/Burning: CensorshipAdvertisements: Government’s promotion of ignorancePheonix: New beginnings from ashes |
| Irony | Montag&Faber: Montag wants to speak for himself, but Faber creates a device where he is able to think for himMontag’s burning house: Firemen burn other things; not their own |
| Foreshadowing | First impressions of the mechanical houndConversation with Beatty: “You always said, don’t face a problem, burn it.”How Montag used to have “nervous glances” towards the air vent where he kept booksJet noises: Symbol of war/foreshadowing |
| Salamander’s Relation to Fire | Lives in it |
| Granger’s Grandfather | Scuptor |
| Before Beatty’s death | Quotes Julius Caesar |
| The Book of Job | Book Faber reads to Montag over the radio |
| Mrs. Phelps | One of Mildred’s friends; cries when Montag reads the poetry because her husband is at war; shows her feelings are there |
| Drug Hound injects in Montag’s leg | Procaine |
| Firemen’s uniforms | Black and Orange |
| Info about Setting | -False sense of Happiness-Unsocial; not a lot of talking/thinking/pondering-Many OD; have the Snake-Government believes they are perfect-No books-Advertisements are big in the society-War/conflict |
Fahrenheit 451
February 7, 2020